The cloistered cleric spends more time than other clerics in study and prayer and less in martial training. He gives up some of the cleric’s combat prowess in exchange for greater skill access and a wider range of spells devoted to knowledge (and the protection of knowledge).

Most cloistered clerics are nonchaotic, since they believe that a disciplined lifestyle lends itself better to learning.

Hit Die

The cloistered cleric uses a d6 for his Hit Die (and has hit points at 1st level equal to 6 + Con modifier).

Base Attack Bonus

The cloistered cleric’s lack of martial training means that he uses the poor base attack bonus.

Class Skills

The cloistered cleric’s class skill list includes Decipher Script, Speak Language, and all Knowledge skills (from the Knowledge domain, see below). The cloistered cleric gains skill points per level equal to 6 + Int modifier (and has this number x4 at 1st level).

Class Features

The cloistered cleric has all the standard cleric class features, except as noted below.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency

Cloistered clerics are proficient with simple weapons and with light armor.

Lore (Ex)

Thanks to long hours of study, a cloistered cleric has a wide range of stray knowledge. This ability is identical to the bard’s bardic knowledge class feature, using the cloistered cleric’s class level in place of the bard level.

Deity, Domains, and Domain Spells

Most cloistered clerics worship deities associated with knowledge and learning.

In addition to any domains selected from his deity’s list, a cloistered cleric automatically gains the Knowledge domain as a bonus domain (even if the Knowledge domain is not normally available to clerics of that deity). He gains the Knowledge domain granted power and may select his bonus domain spell from the Knowledge domain or from one of his two regular domains.